A new Minnesota law aimed at nursing home abuse and elder abuse in general means harsher punishment for those caught abusing the elderly. Those that intentionally neglect a vulnerable adult will now face felony charges.

The law was created after two Minnesota teens were convicted of sexually and physically abusing nursing home residents. The two girls, who worked at Good Samaritan Nursing Home in Albert Lea, were in jail only a couple months for their actions, which were at the time classified as misdemeanors.

Minnesota lawmakers aim to send a message to all would be abusers of the elderly or other vulnerable adults that these actions actions will be taken very seriously and will not be tolerated.

The two abusers, both teenagers at the time of the abuse, have openly displayed their remorse for their actions, which included spitting on, taunting, and pinching the breasts of elderly nursing home residents, some of which had Alzheimer’s.

We encourage anyone who was abused or neglected in a nursing home to contact a nursing home abuse lawyer. If you have a family member who you believe was abused contact the authorities and seek the legal advice of nursing home abuse lawyers who can help you get justice.